Rihanna's sheer gown -- the most risqué red sheer gown -- triggers debate about brazen nudity in fashion and popular culture
When Rihanna wore a sheer Adam Selman gown at CFDA Awards this week, the fashion galaxy went ballistic. Some thought it was smoking hot while others felt that it was alarmingly risque as everything was on display - boobs, butt, et al. Some Twitter bunnies went on to call it the most risque red carpet outfit of 2014. Funnily enough, the notorious translucent gown completely overshadowed the CFDA Awards recipients.
Designer Masaba Gupta tweeted, "I think this dress is more of a middle finger to the world with sequins on it. Rihanna !" Instagrammers across the world went into a tizzy. Rihanna was honoured with the 2014 Fashion Icon of the Year prize by Her Voguness, Anna Wintour who introduced the pop diva at the ceremony, noting that the three-time Vogue cover model "enjoys pushing buttons—while remaining true to (herself)." She gushed, "Rihanna speaks to her fans with her every look. And what she says to them—and I include all of us in that group—is that it's fun to feel a little boyish one day and dress up like a dazzling diva the next," before quipping, to laughter, "I think that's what she was going for tonight."
Accepting her award, Rihanna explained that fashion is "an outlet for me to express myself, to speak up, to say who I am and to be very loud about it at times." She added, "Fashion is just a world of thrills, it's exciting, there's no rules . . . I mean (Wintour) has a ton of rules. There are rules! But rules are meant to be broken." Mel Ottenberg, Rihanna's stylist, told style.com that he knew Rihanna was ready to pull off this sort of dress — and had told her as much: "It's so naked," he said. "I don't know if it's shocking — I'm with her all the time, so my shock gauge is off, but I told her that I thought she was ready for this dress a while ago, and that I wasn't. I'm the prude, and I'm just catching up."
It seems at least eight people worked nonstop from Sunday night to Monday evening putting the finishing touches on the dress, which incorporated more than 230,000 Swarovski crystals.
Yay or nay? Fashion industry reacts...
Not Appropriate Nachiket Barve
There's a fine line between provocation and shamelessness. There's a difference between being clever and being tacky. The dress is not just inappropriate, it's also pointless. Anna Wintour is not just an editor but her role also extends to shaping the cultural society. And her approval of the dress is sort of terrifying! The dress is so out there and nothing is left to the imagination. I much prefer Gwyneth Paltrow's cape Tom Ford gown (Oscars, 2012) which was risque, bold and fantastic.
Showing skin is not being necessarily being fashion forward --Ami Patel
Rihanna has always been about throwing surprises. She carried off the sheer gown and nobody else could have rocked it the way she did. The way she walked, held herself - it was rocking. For India, it's definitely too risque. Personally, I feel showing skin does not necessarily mean being fashion forward. She has the perfect boobs and she looked gorgeous.
Drress required a slip: Nandita Mahtani
She won the icon award this year which she totally deserves. As far as the dress is concerned, it is beautiful but definitely required a slip or should have been lined. There's not much left to the imagination! But full marks for brazenness... She does have a stunning body!
Too in your face: Surily Goel
She looks hot in the dress, however, also comes across as someone trying too hard. I'm not crazy about the thong. The dress could have been much classy and not so in-your-face. Perhaps a pair of skin colour shorts or even sequinned shorts would have helped. The dress is more revealing than a bikini. Having said that. I'd like to add that she got what she wanted which was to make a strong statement.
Red carpet, not a cabaret salon: Pria Kataaria Puri
I don't approve of this trend of scandalously dressed pop divas and Rihanna has been indulging in way too much nudity of late, especially on her Instagram handle. Women should not be portrayed in this way. I love Rihanna, her style and ideology but she's clearly gone overboard. A lot of her fan following comprises young girls and it's not the right message for them. I wish the dress was semi-lined. Also, it was a red carpet setting and not a cabaret salon. I much prefer JLO's printed Versace dress (in 2000, at the 42nd Grammy Awards) which was provocative.
Too provocative for red carpet - Nimish Shah
The dress is super vulgar. It's too provocative for an institution like Red Carpet and people need to respect that. It's not a playground and you are already getting enough attention. I understand nudity in the lingerie space but not this. It sends out a wrong message to the 12 year old girls who are coping with adolesence and struggling with body issues. It's wrong on so many levels and mediocrity should be given so much fodder
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